Corn snapping and husking roll



Sept. 21, 1954 H. L. ROSENTHAL CORN SNAPPING AND HUSKING ROLL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 14, 1950 INVfiENTOR. 8Y7 Md/ A7'7'Oz9/VZVS.

Sept. 21, 1954 H. L. ROSENTHAL 2,689,441 CORN SNAPPING AND HUSKING ROLL Filed July 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 21, 1954 CORN SNAPPING AND HUSKING ROLL Henry L. Rosenthal, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Henry L. Rosenthal, Paul H. Rosenthal, Lawrence E. Rosenthal, and Mabel A. Rosenthal, copartners doing business as Rosenthal Mfg.

00., Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 14, 1950, Serial N0. 173,866

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in husking rolls for corn handling machines.

Present day corn harvesting or picking machines are provided with upwardly inclined combination snapping and husking rolls. The ears of corn are snapped from the stalks by the snapping portions of the snapping and husking rolls, and are then moved upwardly along said rolls and into contact with the husking portions thereof. As the ears are moved over the husking portions of the rolls, the rolls remove the husks therefrom.

In machines as heretofore proposed, the rolls remove the husks satisfactorily, but their action is so aggressive that a substantial proportion of the kernels are torn loose from the ears and discharged from the machine with the husks. This results in the loss of much valuable corn, since the torn off kernels are discharged from the machine with the husks. Several husking roll designs have been tried in an effort to develop a roll which performs a thorough husking job without tearing a substantial number of kernels loose from the ears being husked. Smooth rubber rolls have been tried, but these become slippery when wet and perform poorly. Rubber prjections on a metal roll coacting with a smooth rubber roll have also been tried, but the rubber projections are subject to rapid wear and have to be frequently replaced.

With the above in mind, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide improved husking rolls which are capable of performing a thorough and eflicient husking operation without tearing any substantial number of kernels loose from the ears being husked.

A further object of the invention is to provide a set of improved husking rolls, one of which is covered with smooth rubber, and the other of which is formed of a metal cylinder having longitudinally extending recesses in the surface thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of improved husking rolls of the class described wherein the recessed roll of said pair is hollow, and wherein said recesses communicate with the hollow interior of said roll.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of improved husking rolls of the class described wherein the improved husking action performed thereby results from the filling up of the hollow roll with portions of cobs and other material, said material projecting from the slots of said roll and into contact with the ears being husked to act thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of improved husking rolls of the class described wherein the hollow roll automatically stays full and wherein the material projecting from the slots thereof is automatically replaced as it is worn off during a husking operation. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of improved combination snapping and husking rolls of the class described wherein the snapping portions; of said rolls may be constructed similarly to the hollow slotted husking roll portions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of improved rolls of the class described which are strong and durable, which are simple in construction and easy to manufacture, and which are otherwise well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved rolls for corn harvesters or the like and all of their parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein is shown one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, and wherein like characters of reference indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a corn harvester having incorporated therein a pair of improved snapping and husking rolls made in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken approximately along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a pair of the improved snapping and husking rolls removed from the machine, parts being broken away and shown in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates a frame which is conventionally mounted on wheels (not shown). The frame 5 supports a pair of suitably driven combination husking and snapping rolls 5 and 1, the structure of which forms the subject matter of this application. The rolls 6 and I extend longitudinally of the machine and incline downwardly toward their forward ends. The snapping portions .of the ro1ls6 and l are at the lower ends thereof and are indicated by the letter B in Fig. 3, being foreshortened in this View. The husking portions of the rolls '6 and 1 are indicated by the letter A in Fig. 3.

Supported on the rame 5, and extending forwardly thereon are a pair of spaced downwardly sloping side panels 9 and I0. The panels 9 and l are outwardly curved along their upper edges, as at e' and It (see Fig. 2), and form a conventional stalk gathering trough. The panel members 9 and I!) at their upper ends merge with a pair of spaced substantially parallel side panels II.

The panel member 9 is provided with an upper gathering chain I3 and with a lower gathering chain M (see Fig. 2). The panel member It is provided with an upper gathering chain I and with a lower gathering chain It, as well as with a pair of intermediate gathering chains I? and If). The gathering chains 13, it, 15, I I1 and iii are provided respectively with flights I3, I4, [5, IE, IT and I8 which project inwardly of the panel members with which they are associated, and said chains normally move said flights upwardly and rearwardly along the inner extents thereof.

A drive chain l9 extends from the rear end of the frame 5 parallel with the roll t and powers the gathering chains I5, It, I! and I8 through the system of shafts and sprockets shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A second drive chain extends from the rear end of the frame 5 parallel with the roll 'I and powers the chains I3 and I l. The drive chain 29 is provided with flights 2i! which are positioned to travel above the roll 1, as shown in Fig. 2. The flights 2t act to forward ears Which have been snapped from the stalks by the snapping portions .of the rolls 6 and l upwardly and rearwardly along said rolls to and over the husking portions thereof.

The gathering chains I3, It, IE, it and I; and i? are wall known in the art, and the ear forwarding chain 2c is shown in my Patent No. 2,501,097. Other features of the above mentioned patent which are also incorporated in the corn harvester shown in the drawings are a suitably driven rotary cutter 2I positioned below the snapping portions of the rolls 6 and l, and a suitably driven sickle knife 22 which is positioned below and adjacent the lower end of the gathering chain It. The rotary cutter 21 is for the purpose of cutting the stalks into fodder, and the sickle knife 22 is for the purpose of severing the stalks near the ground as the machine moves along a row of corn.

Referring to Fig. 3, the roller 6 comprises an elongated, cylindricahhollow sleeve 23 having formed therein a plurality of longitudinally extending slots E i which extend through the cylindrical wall. As shown, the slots 2 may be arranged in substantially parallel longitudinal and circumferential rows. A generally frusto-conical plug 25 having a portion of reduceddiameter 25 at its larger end is inserted in the lower end of the sleeve 23, and said plug is flxed, as by welding, to said sleeve. The plug 25 is preferably formed at its smaller end with a cylindrical portion 2? which is adapted to be mounted for rotation in a suitable bearing. The tapered surface portion of the plug 25 is formed with a helical flange 28, as shown. A generally cylindrical plug 25 is formed with a portion of reduced diameter 36 which is inserted in the opposite end of the sleeve 23 and is fixed to said sleeve, as by weld- The roll l comprises a snapping portion B which may consist of a hollow metal sleeve 3! similar to, but of substantially less length than, the sleeve 23. The sleeve 3i may be formed with longitudinal slots 32 which are similar to the slots 24 in the sleeve 23. A plug 33 similar to the plug 25 has its larger end inserted in the lower end of the sleeve BI and fixed in position therein, as by welding. The plug 33 preferably has a cylindrical journal portion 3a, and said plug is also formed with a helical flange 35, the direction of which is opposite to that of the flange 23.

An annular ring 36, having an outside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the sleeve 3!, is formed with a portion of reduced external diameter Bl substantially equal to the inside diameter of the sleeve 3!. The annular ring 35 is positioned against the upper end of the sleeve 3| with the portion 3? thereof inserted in said end. The ring 36 may be fixed, as by Welding to the sleeve 31.

A sleeve 38 has one end inserted in the annular ring 36 and preferably welded thereto. As shown in Fig. 3, the sleeve 38 has an outside diameter substantially smaller than that of ring 365 and sleeves 3i and 23. A plug 3.) has a portion of reduced diameter it inserted in the upper end of the sleeve 38, and said plug is preferably welded to said sleeve as shown.

A sleeve l-I of rubber or other suitable resilient material is positioned on the metal sleeve 38, as

shown. The sleeve 4! may be bonded to the sleeve 38, and it preferably has a smooth exterior surface, as shown. The outer diameter of the sleeve 4| is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the sleeve 3| and the inner diameter of the sleeve M is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the sleeve 33 on which it is positioned. The sleeve 4i covers substantially all of the external surface of the sleeve 38 between the plug 39 and the ring 36.

In operation, as the corn harvester moves along a row of corn, the panels 9 and It of the gathering trough pass on opposite sides of the row, and the gathering chains 53 to it urge the stalks into said trough in the usual manner. The sickle knife 22 severe said stallrs near the ground and the gathering chains deliver the stalks to the snapping portions of the rolls 8 and l' in a standing position which is substan tially at a right angle to said rolls. As shown in Fig. 2, the rolls 5 and i are rotated in opposite directions in a manner to draw the stalks downwardly therethrough. As the stalks move downwardly through thesnapping portions of the rolls 6 and I, the ears are snapped off of said stalks and remain above the rolls 6 and i, while the stalks travel downwardly into the cutter 2i.

The flights 2% of the ear forwarding chain 2t then move the ears upwardly along the rolls 5 and l, and said ears are moved into contact with the husking portions of the rolls i5 and "i. As the ears move upwardly along the husking portions of the rolls 6 and I (as indicated by the letter A, Fig. 3), the husks are removed therefrom and said husks also drop downwardly into the cutter ZI. The hushed ears are discharged from the upper ends of the rolls i; and l onto a suitable discharge conveyor.

During use, the slotted portions of the sleeves 23 and iii fill up with fodder and like material such as fragments of cobs, husks, and the like. The sleeves eventually fill up so completely that portions of this filling material project from all of the slotted openings 2% and 32. Experience has shown that this material may project approximately one-eighth of an inch from said slots. The projections of filler material projecting from the husking portion of the roll 23 coact with the smooth rubber sleeve 4| and perform an efficient husking operation with no substantial tearing loose of kernels from the ears being hushed. The portions of the filler material which projects from the slots 24 of the sleeve 23 are subject to continual wearing off during operation, but as said portions wear off, they are replaced -by new portions of cobs or the like which automatically push out from the interior of the sleeve 23 to replace the broken off portions.

The improved roll structure effects a substantial saving while performing an eilicient husking operation. The kernels which are torn loose by the rather violent husking action of conventional husking rolls are lost, since they leave the machine with the fodder and are cut up by the cutter 2|. Corn is of much greater value for feed and milling purposes than it is as fodder, and by preventing the kernels from being torn loose in the husking operation, a substantial saving is effected.

The improved rolls are extremely durable, there being no projections thereon which wear away and require attention. Experience has shown that the improved roll construction operates efiiciently even in wet weather.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated, as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a corn husking device: a pair of juxtaposed parallel rolls mounted for rotation in opposite directions, said rolls having cooperable snapping portions and cooperable husking portions, the snapping portion of both of said rolls being hollow and being formed with a plurality of apertures therein communicating with the hollow interior thereof, and the husking portion of one of said rolls being hollow and formed with a plurality of apertures therein communicating with the hollow interior thereof, the husking portion of the other roll being formed with a smooth surface.

2. In a corn husking device: a pair of juxtaposedparallel rolls mounted for rotation in opposite directions, said rollshaving cooperable snapping portions and cooperable husking portions, the snapping portion of both of said rolls being hollow and being formed with a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending slots therein communicating with the hollow interior thereof, and the husking portion of one of said rolls being hollow and formed with a plurality of spaced longitudinally extendingslots therein communicating with the hollow interior thereof, the husking portion of the other roll being formed with a smooth rubber surface.

3. In a corn husking device: a pair of juxtaposed parallel rolls mounted for rotation, one of said rolls comprising a sleeve having formed therein a plurality of spaced apertures extending therethrough, and the other of said rolls comprising a cylindrical snapping portion formed with a plurality of recesses in the surface thereof, said other roll also being formed with another cylindrical portion of reduced diameter, there being a concentric sleeve of smooth rubber covering said portion of reduced diameter and forming a husking portion.

4. In a corn husking device: a pair of juxtaposed parallel rolls mounted for rotation, one of said rolls comprising a sleeve having formed therein a plurality of spaced longitudinal slots extending therethrough, and the other of said rolls comprising a cylindrical snapping portion formed with a plurality of elongated longitudinally extending recesses in the surface thereof said other roll also being formed with another cylindrical portion of reduced diameter, there being a concentric sleeve of smooth rubber covering said portion of reduced diameter and forming a husking portion.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,373,428 Hughes Apr. 5, 1921 1,417,356 Smith May'23, 1922 1,611,002 Davis Dec. 14, 1926 1,666,796 Shuler Apr. 17, 1928 1,682,142 Paradise et a1 Aug. 28, 1928 1,870,420 Paradise et al Aug. 9, 1932 1,976,869 Wandscheer Oct. 16, 1934 2,180,594 Kuhlman Nov. 21, 1939 2,308,102 Paradise et al Jan. 12, 1943 2,333,901 Swenson Nov. 9, 1943 2,391,846 Scranton Dec. 25, 1945 2,643,657 Fergason June 30, 1953 

